“Hi Max. Feel like some home cooking?”
Max winced. “You don’t have to go to any trouble. I was planning on Pollard’s for some chicken. How does that sound?”
“Sounds great, but only if you let me pay,” the older man said.
“Normally that would be great, but I won a bet with Cullen today. He thought he could beat me on the obstacle course. He lost. I’ve got cash burning a hole in my pocket.”
Lester let out a hearty laugh. “Well if we’re eating on Cullen’s dime, let’s go for it. You know what Mikey and I like. Come on over.”
“I should be there in about a half hour.”
“Sounds good.”
Max picked up the keys on his counter, plus the hot wheels that he’d bought last weekend and left his house. He moved his truck to the street, then locked it. It was a perfect night for a drive in the convertible, what’s more Mikey would love a ride in the convertible. He drove over to Pollard’s and put in an order for twenty pieces of chicken, mashed potatoes, hush puppies, coleslaw, corn on the cob, fried okra, cinnamon apples, green beans and homemade corn muffins. He knew that Lester was on a tight budget so this should last awhile.
When he parked the Cougar on the street in front of the Sinclair’s house he wasn’t surprised in the least to see Mikey out front waiting for him. The big man’s grin was a sight for sore eyes.
“Max! Max! Max! I mowed your grass! Did you see? Did you?”
He was practically jumping up and down in excitement.
He ran down the walkway and gripped the side of Max’s car.
“I can help carry in dinner? Did you get hush puppies? Them’s my favorite.”
“I did,” Max assured Mikey. He handed him one of the bags, then hit the button to bring the top up so he could lock the car while he was inside with Mikey and Lester. By the time he walked up to the door Mikey had the screen door open, waiting for him.
“I got your mail today, too!”
Max grinned at Mikey’s exuberance. Everything the man said was an exclamation, how could anyone be unhappy when they were around someone so filled with joy?
“Mikey, don’t block the door and let Max in, the food is getting cold.”
“I’m not Dad, I’m helping.” Max handed Mikey another sack of food and followed him into the kitchen table. Lester had already started to unload the containers of food.
“What did you do, buy out the entire restaurant?” Lester asked.
“I was hungry and everything looked good,” Max explained. He dumped the last bag onto the table and went to the cupboard to get the plates, then grabbed the silverware they were going to need. When he was done he reached into the fridge and found the ever present pitcher of sweet iced tea. He might spend a lot of time over at his friend and teammate’s home, but if he had to say where he felt most comfortable, it was with Lester and Mikey, it reminded him of some of the homes he and grown up in.
When they got settled down at the table, Mikey grabbed their hands. “Can I say grace?” he asked?
“Of course,” Lester answered.
“Bless us oh Lord, and these our guests for the bounty for which we are about to receive, thank you, Amen. And thank for a whole bunch of food from Max, especially the hush puppies.”
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